South Africa’s Ernie Els sunk a magnificent 18-footer for eagle-three at the last to win the Dubai Desert Classic for the third time on Sunday. The priceless putt edged the world number three one stroke clear of overnight leader Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain who three-putted on the same green to fall into a share of second with Welshman Stephen Dodd.
Silver Stars dropped two valuable points when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bloemfontein Celtic at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday. Stars led 1-0 at halftime. Stars opened the scoring through veteran defender Willem Jackson from the penalty spot in the 28th minute.
A union representing striking truck drivers will meet in Johannesburg on Monday morning to discuss Sunday’s negotiations with employers. Negotiations between truckers’ unions and their employers ended after 1am on Monday, with the unions saying they have to report back to their members first before divulging details about the negotiations.
President Thabo Mbeki has invited Swaziland’s King Mswati III to visit South Africa, but it was not clear on Monday morning whether the meeting would take place, Mbeki’s office said. Mbeki’s spokesperson said he did not know if arrangements for the meeting had been finalised.
Lamontville Golden Arrows grabbed maximum points when they beat Jomo Cosmos 2-0 in their Castle Premiership match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng on Sunday. Arrows led 1-0 at the interval through a 28th minute goal by striker Richard Henyekane, beating goalkeeper David Fortuin with a fierce shot.
I take full responsibility for my part in the demise of the once proud African airline called Air Afrique. It treated me well on a number of occasions, but I dissed it. Well, I dissed it because, in spite of all the good intentions and generally good service once you were aboard (although that’s debatable), the getting aboard thing was the major challenge.
A Bill against Taiwanese independence, which is to be put before the Chinese legislature, brought more than 15 000 protesters on to the streets of Taipei on Sunday, amid fears that it will be used by Beijing to justify military action. The contents of the anti-secession law will be made public later this week.
The crimes of Croatia’s past are holding the country’s future hostage, a decade after the wars that destroyed Yugoslavia. Croatia’s most wanted war crimes suspect, a 49-year-old general, has been on the run for almost four years. Unless he is located and arrested within 10 days the European Union will refuse to open membership negotiations with Croatia.
Iran has hinted that it could follow North Korea in abrogating its nuclear pledges if Washington took the ayatollahs to the United Nations Security Council because of suspicions about its nuclear programmes. Speaking at a nuclear technology conference in Tehran, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rowhani, voiced frustration with EU attempts to defuse the nuclear dispute.
No Kaizer Chiefs fans were among those injured in a stampede in Madagascar on Sunday during a soccer match between the South African team and the USJF Ravinala soccer club. International news agencies reported that 47 people were injured in the stampede. Six of them were reported to be in a coma.